Supercharged chamber for aircraft



Aprii 1% 19 5-5.

R. T. HURLEY SUPERCHARGED CHAMBER FOR AIRCRAFT Filed Oct. 6, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY A rifi w, 1945. R HUR EY 2,373,185

SUPERCHARGED CHAMBER FOR AIRCRAFT Filed 001;. 6, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2'38 ATM05- 9 4| V? SUPERCHARGED CABIN Mam ATTORNEY a mask prevents the'erly through the sight mechanism, and the heavr'atented Apr. 10, 19452,373,185 SUPERCHARGED CHAMBER FOR AIRCRAFT Roy '1. Hurley, Westport,Conn., assignor to Bendix Aviation Corporation,

South Bend, Ind.,

a corporation of Delaware Application October 6, 1941, Serial No.413,795

15 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for aircraft and more particularlyto supercharged chambers for aircraft operating at high altitudes.

In military aircraft operating at high altitudes members of the crewstationed at points remote from the cabin, for example, in the gunturrets, are exposed to highly rarefied atmospheres and intense cold. Tofacilitate respiration at high altitudes it has been proposed to feedthe men oxygen by means of masks, This, however, has offered inadequateprotection s nce it makes no compensation for the physical effects dueto differences in pressure between the body interior and exterior. Thenormal functionings of the respiratory and circulatory systems of thebody are seriously affected by the existence of differences in pressurebetween the interior and exterior of the body. Under such conditions themind becomes dull and unresponsive. Moreover,

gunner from sighting propily insulated clothing necessary to protect thegunner from the cold hinders his movements.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novelapparatus in an aircraft for heating and superchalglng at high altitudesthe atmosphere surrounding a member of the aircraft crew stationed. forexample,-in a gun turret.

Another object is to of the above character in combination with a gunturret of the revolving type without modifying or otherwise affectingthe operation of the turret.

A further object is to provide a novel apparatus compris ng asubstantially air-tight chamber for accommodating a single member of thecrew stationed in the aircraft at a point remote from the aircraft cabinand novel means for circulating air through said chamber, said air beingsupercharged at altitudes exceeding a predetermined altitude.

Still another object is to provide novel means for maintaining apredetermined pressure in a closed chamber of an aircraft at varyingaltitudes while circulating air therethrough.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention willmore fully appear from thefollowing detailed description when the sameis "read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to beexpressly understood, howhat the drawings illustration only and are tionof the limits of the are for the purpose of not intended as adefiniinvention, reference for provide a novel apparatus.

- acters refer to like parts throughout the several greater than 90shown in Fig. 1.

this latter purpose being had primarily to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference charviews,

Fig. 1 is a view partly in side elevation and artly in section, withparts broken away, of an aircraft gun turret embodying a form of thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the supercharged container ofFig. 1, the gunner being shown in phantom;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of another embodiment of the presentinvention, showing the gunner in full lines;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the lower end of the turret mechanism ofFig. 3 showing the intake and exhaust couplings;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a form of apparatus suitablefor attaching the parts of the supercharged container of Fig. 3 to eachother;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of one embodiment of means for maintaininga supercharged atmosphere in the chamber for the gunner and forcirculatin air therethrough;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of a control mechanism for the abovemeans; and

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of another circuit for maintaining asupercharged pressure in the turret containers.

The invention is illustrated, by way of example, in Figs. 1 and 2 asembodied in a gun turret in carried in the fuselage ii of an aircraft,said turret being of the type mounting a pair of laterally-spacedmachine guns 6 2 disposed parallel to each other. Turret l0 comprises atransparent hous ng I 3 having a pair of slots Id therein for barrels l5of the machine guns, said slots permittin the guns to be pivoted throughan angle relative to said turret. To move the guns in elevation, powermeans l8 are provided, and to move the guns in azimuth turret Ill ismounted for rotation relative to fuselage II, the rotation beingaccomplished by a power driven shaft I! which serves to mount saidturret. Shaft I1 is preferably driven by motor means 18 located at thebase thereof. Suitable means for manually controlling the operation ofpower means l5 and I8 are provided and, as

comprise a control box l9 carrying a movable control element 20, thelatter being connected electrically or mechanically to said power meansand having a trigger control for guns l2.

A sighting mechanism 2| is rigidly mounted between guns l2 and anobjective lens system is carried in the forward portion 22 thereof, thelatter having an angular-1y disposed window 23 mounted on the exteriorthereof and a plvotable prism or other suitable movable reflecting meansmounted on the interior thereof. The reflecting means is connected tomachine guns i2 and is so arranged that movement of the guns inelevation produces a corresponding movement of the refiector so that theaxis of the field of vision of the sight ng mechanism 2| is directedalong a line parallel to the bore of said guns. Accordingly, the targetcovered by guns I2 is always within the field of vision of sightingmechanism 2|. A suitable eyepiece 24 is mounted on the inside end of thesighting mechanism and is provided with a yieldably face-engagingportion for facilitating sighting.

A seat 25 secured to shaft I1 is provided for the gunner who straddlesthe shaft with control box l9 disposed between his thighs, a support 26being preferably secured to extend on both sides of said shaft in frontthereof for supporting the unners feet. The head and shoulders of thegunner extend into turret I between guns I2 through a recess in thebottom of the turret framed by a member 2'! (Fig. 2). The latterconstitutes a part of the supporting structure for the apparatus mountedin the turret and has solid walls surrounding the recess for theobserver's body.

To supercharge and, if desired, to heat the atmosphere surrounding atleast the head, chest, abdomen and back of the gunner, a novel containeris provided in turret I0 and, as shown. comprises a transparentenclosure member which extends upwardly into turret housing i3, beingmounted on frame 21 in air-tight engagement with the walls thereof.Eyepiece 24 of the sighting mechanism extends within said enclosuremember which is adapted to receive the head and shoulders of theobserver stationed in the turret. A novel garment-like member 29 offlexible, impervious material constitutes the lower portion of thecontainer and is provided with a pair of sleeves 30 for receiving theobserver's arms, and a pair of leg openings 3| through which the le s ofthe observer extend. Sleeves 30 and the sides of openings 3| arepreferably elastic, 01' are lined with felt so as to be in substantiallyair-tight engagement with the arms and thighs, respectively, of thewearer. The upper end of member 29 is secured to the walls of frame 21by suitable means, as, for example, a band of metal 32 riveted orscrewed to the frame.

are preferably provided in the rear wall of member 28, said ports beinglocated so as to be above the portion of the rear wall of said memberadapted to be engaged by the observer's back. A manifold 35 connectsports 34 to an exhaust conduit 36 and the circulation through saidconduit and inlet conduit 33 is suitably controlled to maintain asupercharged pressure in said chamber at high altitudes and to produce asufllcient circulation for proper respiration at all times. To controlthe pressure in chamber 28, 28, a pump or supercharger 31 (Fig. 6) isconnected to discharge into inlet conduit 33 and has the intake thereofcommunicating with the atmosphere, said pump being of the type adaptedto discharge air at a constant pressure which exceeds slightly theminimum pressure desired in chamber 28, 28 at high altitudes. However,when the pump intake pressure is greater than the pressure for which thedischarge is set, as, for example, at very low altitudes, the dischargepressure is substantially equal to the intake pressure. It is preferableto locate pump 31 on the exterior of the turret and, accordingly, inletconduit 33 which rotates with the turret is connected by means of acentral coupli' g 33a to a stationary conduit 332) from said p p (Fig.1). Coupling 33a may be any suitable rotatable pressure jointcommercially available for connecting a rotating conduit to a stationaryconduit when said conduits are coaxial with the axis of rotation at thepoint of connection.

To attain a sufllcient circulation of air through container 28, 29 whilemaintaining the desired minimum pressure in said container, a valve 33is connected to exhaust passage 36 and is controlled by means responsiveto the pressure in said container. -It is preferable to exhaust the airdirectly from the turret, and accordingly valve 38 is mounted in theturret and the passage 35 directs the air discharge passing through saidvalve to the turret exterior (Fig. 2). As shown diagrammatically inFigs. 6 and 7, the control means for valve 38 comprise a pressureresponsive device 39, for example, of the aneroid type. mounted on theinternal wall of member 28. Diaphragm 39a (Fig. 7) of said devicecarries one contact of a switch 40, the latter being closed by themovement of said diaphragm in response to a given pressure in chamber28, 28. Switch 40 is in circuit with a source of energy 4i and a sole-To permit the gunner to enter container 28, 29.

portions of member 29 are detachably secured along a seam extending fromleg opening 3| up the side of said member and down sleeve 30 to theopenings therein, the edges of said seam being provided with fasteningmeans 29a, for example, of the zipper type. It is also preferable toprovide a seam in crotch portion 28b of member 29 and suitable means,such as clips 230, for detachably securing the separable portions ofsaid crotch portion to each other.

To maintain a continuous flow of air through container 28, 29, an inletconduit 33 is connected to the interior thereof, said conduit, as shown,extending centrally through shaft l1 and sideways through the wall offrame2l and having an upwardly turned end so as to direct the flow ofentering air toward the nostrils of the gunner. A plurality of exhaustports or slots 33 (Fig. 2)

noid 42, the latter being operatively connected to valve 38. Pressuresin excess of a predetermined value displace diaphragm 38a sufficientlyto close switch 40 and the latter completes the circuit whereby solenoid42 is actuated to open valve 38. It is to be understood that a pressureresponsive device of the type having a mechanical connection between themember movable in response to pressure in chamber 28, 29 and the valvemay be used, and that said device may have the pressure responsive meansconnected to conduit 38.

The gunner takes his position in turret [0 with his head and shouldersin member 28 and with his right arm in right sleeve 30, as illustratedin Figs. 1 and 2. Thereafter, he secures the detached parts of crotchportion 28b to each other by clips 29c and closes fastener 28a,rendering container 28, 29 substantially air-tight. Fastener 29a is notclosed until pump 31 has begun to function and to produce a flow of airthrough conduit 33. It is preferable that the discharge valves of saidpump be set to discharge at a pressure slightly greater than thepressure existing at 10,000'feet of alti; tude and, accordingly, ataltitudes below 10,000

arment t3. chamber 28, B3 exceed the pressures on the extefeet said pumpdischarges air at a pressure equal altitude of 10,000 feet andthereafter the pressure is maintained substantially constant and equalto the pressure at 10,000 feet.

In the above-described embodiment, the arms and legs of the gunnerremain exposed to the rarified and cold air and, accordingly, saidembodiment of the invention is suitable for use when altitudes ofapproximately 25,000 feet are not to be exceeded. Atmospheric conditionsat altitudes in excess of 25,000 feet make it desirable to enclose theentire body of the gunner in a supercharged atmosphere and a novelapparatus (Figs. 3 to 5) is provided for this purpose. The apparatus ismounted, by way of example, in a gun turret similar to that shown inFigs. 1 and 2 and comprises an upper enclosure like that of container28, 29 of the first described embodiment. Accordingly, parts which arealike in the two structures are designated by like numerals.

In order to enclose the arms and legs of the Moreover, the pressure insaid chamber is equal to that surrounding the aircraft up to an gunner,a novel chamber is provided and, as

shown, the lower part thereof comprises a trouserlike garment 43 ofimpervious material having a pair of boot-like leg receiving portionsas. upper portion 45 of said garment extends to the chest of the wearerand is sufliciently voluminous to permit substantially free movement ofthe gunners arms therein.

Garment B3 is attached to frame 27 by suitable means adapted to renderthe connection air-tight, and said means comprise a rigid skirt 56(Figs. 3 and 5) which is secured to said frame and extends downwardlytherefrom. A suitable fastenr is provided for securing the lower edge ofsaid skirt to the upper edge of garment Q3 and said fastener isillustrated, by way of example, as comprising a plurality of hooks 67attached to garment t3 and eyelets 68 secured to skirt 46 for receivingsaid hooks. A resilient flap 49 is secured at the upper edge thereof tothe inner wall of the lower. portion of skirt 60 so as to extenddownwardly therefrom and overlap the upper edge of Accordingly, whenpressures in rior thereof, flap 69 is pressed into air-tight engagementwith skirt i6 and garment 43 and prevents air leakage between theseparated edges of said skirt and garment. The mechanism for controllingthe operation of the gun and turret power means and the firing of theguns comprises a control box 50 mounted so as to extend within cham ber83, 28 when garment 43 isoperatively secured to skirt 46.- The controlbox is thus readily accessible for operation by the gunner.

To circulate air through chamber 43, 28, conduits 33 and 36 may beconnected to the pump and valve means of Fig. 6 for operation in thesame manner-as in the embodiment of Fig. 1. It is also satisfactory toconnect conduits 33 and 36 to the pilot's supercharged cabin 5| (Fig. 8)and to provide a pump 52 in conduit 33b for maintaining a flow of airfrom said cabin to chamber 43, 28. The air is preferably returnedthrough conduit 36 which extends through shaft The i1 and is connectedby an annular coupling 36a (Fig.- 4) to a stationary conduit 36b which,in turn, communicates with the supercharged cabin. However, a valvecontrolled passage similar to that shown in Fig. 6 may be utilized forexhausting theair from chamber 43, 28 to the atmosphere surrounding theaircraft.

The gunner is enclosed in chamber 43, 28 by donning garment 43 andattaching the upper end thereof to skirt 46. Air is circulated by pump52 through conduits 33 and 36 and a pressure corresponding to that inthe supercharged pilots cabin is maintained in chamber 43, 28.

There is thus provided a novel apparatus for surrounding the gunner inan aircraft turret with a supercharged and, if desired, a heatedatmosphere at high altitudes. The apparatus comprises novel meansconstituting a substantially air-tight chamber for receiving the gunner,and nc"el means for maintaining a substantially constant superchargedpressure in said chamber at altitudes exceeding the prederminedaltitude, for example, 10,000 feet. Furthermore, the superchargingmechanism is positive in operation and the gunner can be readilyenclosed in the chamber supercharged by said mechanism.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have beenillustrated and described, it is to be expressly understood that thesame is not limited thereto. For example, it will now be apparent tothose skilled in the art that chamber 28, 29 of Figs. 1 and 2 may beconnected to the supercharged pilots cabin by the circuit of Fig. 8.Various other changes may be made in the design and arrangement of partswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For adefinition of the invention, reference will be had primarily to theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a gun turret having a sighting mechanism and atransparent housing, a transparent enclosure member mounted in saidhousing, the eyepiece of said sighting mechanism being contained in saidenclosure member, a frame member supporting said enclosure member, agarment-like member secured to said frame member, said membersconstituting a chamber for the gunner in said turret, means 'for pumpingair into said chamber, valve means controlling the air discharge fromsaid chamber, and means responsive to pressures in said chamber foractuating said valve means.

2. In combination with a gun turret having a, sighting mechanism and atransparent housing, a transparent enclosure member mounted in saidhousing, the eyepiece end of said sighting mechanism being contained insaid enclosure member, a, frame member supporting said enclosure member,a garment-like member secured to said frame member, said membersconstituting a chamber for the gunner in said turret, and means forcirculating air' through said chamber at a pressure in excess of thepressure surrounding said turret.

3. In an aircraft having a supercharged cabin and a gun turret remotefrom said cabin, a relatively air-tight chamber for the gunner securedto and movable with said turret, and means for circulating air from saidcabin through said chamber.

4. In an aircraft having a gun turret, means forming a chamber mountedon and carried by said turret for receiving at least a portion of thebody of the gunner, and means for supercharging said chamber.

5. In an aircraft, a container comprising a rigid transparent housingmember and a garment-like flexible member operatively secured together,said container being mounted on the aircraft for rotation relativethereto and adapted to house a memb'enof the aircraft crew in anatmosphere under pressure greater than the pressure outside saidcontainer, and means for supercharging said container.

6. In an aircraft having a gun turret, means secured to said turret forforming a chamber around at least the head and chest portions of thebody ofthe gunner, said chamber being adapted to be supercharged.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a gun turret, meanscomprising a chamber in said turret, said means including a rigid memberhav ing a transparent upper portion for receiving the head and shouldersof a gunner, and a flexible memberdetachably secured to said rigidmember, said flexible member having boot-like, leg-- receiving portions,means for controlling the operation of said turret and the guns in saidturret, said control means being contained in said chamber to beaccessible to the gunner for manual actuation, and means for circulatingair through said chamber at a pressure in excess of the pressuresurrounding said turret.

8. In an aircraft, a container for receiving one or the crew of saidaircraft, a turret, said container mounted on and carried by said turretcomprising a rigid transparent upper portion and a flexible garment-likelower portion, means for pumping a breathing medium into said container,valve means controlling the exhaust from said container, and meansresponsive to pressure in excess of a given pressure in said containerfor actuating said valve means.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a turret, means comprising a,chamber mounted on and carried by said turret, said means including arigid member having a transparent upper portion for receiving the headand shoulders of a person, and a flexible garment-like member secured tosaid rigid member, and means for circulating a breathing medium throughsaid chamber at high altitudes at a pressure exceeding the pressuresurrounding said turret.

10. The combination with a movable gun mount of enclosure means forminga chamber for housing at least a portion of the body of the gunner, saidmeans including a rigid transparent hood for surrounding the head of thegunner, said hood being secured to said mount, and means for circulatinga breathing medium through said chamber.

11. The combination with a movable gun mount of enclosure means for atleast a portion of the body of a gunner, said means including rigidmeans fixedly secured on said mount for enclosing at least the head ofthe gunner and flexible garment-like means secured to said mount, andmeans for circulating a breathing medium through the chamber formed bysaid enclosure means under pressure greater than the pressuresurrounding said enclosure means.

12. The combination with a movable gun mount having a gun thereon ofenclosure means forming a chamber around at least a portion of the bodyof a gunner, said means including transparent means secured to saidmount for enclosing the head of the gunner and flexible garment-like-means secured to said mount for enclosing another portion of the bodyof said gunner, and means for circulating a breathing medium throughsaid chamber at a pressure exceeding the pressure surrounding saidenclosure means.

13. The combination with a movable gun mount of enclosure means forminga chamber for the body of a gunner, said means. including rigid meansfixedly mounted on said mount for receiving the head of the gunner, atleast a portion of said rigid means being transparent, and flexiblegarment-like means surrounding the lower portion of the gunner's bodyand removably secured to said mount, and means for circulating abreathing medium through said chamber at a pressure in excess of thepressure surrounding said enclosure means,

14. The combination with a movable gun mount having a gun and sightingmechanism mounted thereon of enclosure means forming a chamber for atleast a portion of the body of a gunner and the eye-piece of saidsighting mechanism, said closure means including rigid means fixed onsaid mount for surrounding said eye-piece and the head of the gunner andflexible garment-like means operatively secured to said mount forenclosing at least a portion of the body of the gunner, means forclosely securing said garment-like means around the body of the gunner,and means for circulating a breathing medium through said chamber at apressure and rate adapted to provide a comfortable existence for saidgunner.

15. The combination with a movable gun mount having a un and sightingmechanism mounted thereon and means for controlling the movements ofsaid gun relative to said mount of closure means forming a chamber forat least a portion of the body of a gunner, said closure means includingrigid means secured to said mount for enclosing the eye-piece of saidsighting mechanism and the head of the gunner and flexible garment-likemeans secured to said mount for enclosing at least a portion of the bodyof the gunner and the control means for said gun, and means forcirculating a breathing medium through said chamber at a temperature andpressure conducive to comfort for said gunner.

ROY T. HURLEY.

